A return to the past

Submitted by Iza on Wed, 08/23/2023 - 17:58

Text by our correspondent from Didyma, Glenn Maffia.

It was a delightful and refreshing sight to return to the comparative idyllic bliss of a contemplative veil of silence descending upon the environment of the ancient stones of Didyma. For in recent weeks, it feels like months, we have had extended festivals usurping the immediate area encircling the Temple precinct and parked cars choking the road arteries leading into the area.

I have no doubts, noticing the congregated hordes, the popularity of the Vegan and Jewellery Festivals. But is this a truly sensible venue for such an event(s)? Now the cacophony of the festival attendees have slunk away, no doubt to the many Blue Flag beaches which fortuitously capture the indolent hordes, we can return to that semblance of contemplation to once more consider the Temple and the entire archaeological site. It is, indeed, a pleasure to be returned into that graceful silence once again.

Naïve eloquence

Submitted by Iza on Wed, 08/16/2023 - 08:04

Text by our correspondent from Didyma, Glenn Maffia. All photos by Voices Newspaper, reprinted with their permission.

It may not be particularly prudent to mention the glaringly obvious, but Türkiye’s economic woes continue to mount to the point of being seismic. This certainly is not my sphere of understanding, and I shall leave discussion to those better to do so. Though the ramifications do intrude upon my little corner of interest, namely the protection of our shared human past.

As in all economic meltdowns, certain areas are identified as being surplus to immediate requirement. Corners are abrasively cut to less than desirable levels. I feel, in my field, that this is indicative of the gradual shift away from academic enquiry and a move towards financial opportunists.

The mayhem of festival day surrounding the Temple of Apollo

Revisiting the Repatriation theme

Submitted by Iza on Sun, 06/25/2023 - 18:53

Text by our correspondent from Didyma, Glenn Maffia.

Another idle thought crossed my mind as I cogitated upon those ‘repatriations’ which I recently dwelt upon. That of worldwide Public awareness.

It appears that the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism's modus operandi is to generate a higher influx of foreign visitors to generate much needed revenue, to do so, they have identified ancient artefacts as a means to this end. Fine, that is their job. Though, does it necessarily unfold in that way? I propose here that it intrinsically does not necessarily do so.

Nereid Monument, a sculptured tomb from Xanthos in Lycia, now in the British Museum in London

Repatriation of Anatolian Antiquities

Submitted by Iza on Wed, 06/14/2023 - 17:02

Text by our correspondent from Didyma, Glenn Maffia.

Upon initially reading reports of an investigation into the moral validity and legality of the acquisitions purloined by early German archaeologists during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, my initial thought was that if these antiquities were not indeed removed from their original locations at that time, they would have probably not survived into our current age.

The stone would have been invariably recycled into building materials for abodes, animal pens (plenty of evidence of that occurring in Didyma) or even burnt for the production of lime to be used in the aggregate for mortar.

The Market Gate of Miletus in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin

Recent update on the archaeology of Didyma

Submitted by Iza on Wed, 05/03/2023 - 16:40

Text and photos by our correspondent from Didyma, Glenn Maffia.

It was an immense pleasure to welcome a friend of many years back to Didyma last weekend. His absence had been necessitated by the Covid pandemic and then other work commitments, but after four long years his arrival was most welcomed and the conversation flowed as if there had been no interruption.